Government & Civics Paired Passages & Writing Prompt - Student Uniforms

School Uniforms & Freedom of Speech: Paired Passages & Opinion Writing - Digital & PDF

This is set of leveled paired passages or texts with reading comprehension tests, short response questions, and extended writing prompts. This unit can be used in reading, writing, or social studies. Teachers can use the passages to answer a more general opinion question (Should your school adopt a uniform policy?) or a civics-focused writing prompt on freedom of speech (Do school uniforms' limit students' freedom of expression?). Both are included in this resource.

The included texts are non-fiction. Two of the texts focus on school uniforms. The other passages are written about the freedom of speech. The extended writing prompts provided are for opinion writing. Targeted reading levels are 4th - 6th.

This resource is included in both PDF and digital (Google slides) formats. The digital copies are included in both a whole file format and broken into individual pieces to make it easier for teachers to assign the pieces in an online platform.

This product is designed to help students practice for state reading and writing tests such as FSA and MACS.

Flexible Use

This resource could also be used as part of a unit on the U.S. Civics and Government. Teachers can choose how to use this product.

The Unit

Students read about the difference between dress codes and uniforms policies, as well as the pros and cons of school uniforms (recommended for 4th & 5th grade.) If teachers want to focus more heavily on civics, students would also read about freedom of speech and summaries of court cases regarding freedom of expression (recommended for 6th & 7th grade.) Students write an opinion essay stating their opinion and supporting it with text evidence. (6th & 7th grade teachers could easily have students write an argumentative essay.)

Teachers can select either 1 - 2 texts with first writing prompt, or 3 - 4 with the second prompt.

Three reading comprehension tests are included. One has 5 multiple choice questions and 1 short response. Another has 5 multiple choice questions and 1 short response. The last one is a short response question. Teachers can use these or skip them, depending on how they want to use the unit.

Easy Differentiation

Included are 4 different texts. 3 of the texts are provided on 3 different reading levels. The other text is appropriate for all levels.

In order to differentiate, the leveled passages are provided at three different reading Lexile levels:

• Level A - Low, 4th grade level
• Level B - Medium, 5th grade level
• Level C - High, 6th grade level

Teachers can differentiate this assignment in different ways:

1. Use different reading levels as appropriate.
2. Vary the number of passages given to students. There are 4 texts that can be used for the opinion writing.

• They could either the dress code passage or the pros & cons passage, or they could use both.
• They could use the passages on freedom of speech or the court cases in addition to the other passages, or use all 4 passages.

What is included in this product?

1. Pros & Cons of School Uniforms Passage – appropriate for all levels
2. Dress Codes vs. Uniform Policies: What's the Difference? Passage – in 3 levels
3. Freedom of Speech Passage - in 3 levels
4. Rulings of U.S. Court Cases Related to Students' Freedom of Expression Passage - in 3 levels
5. 3 reading comprehension and 1 short response question for Dress Codes vs. Uniform Policies
6. 5 reading comprehension and 1 short response questions for Freedom of Speech
7. An extended response question for Rulings of U.S. Court Cases
8. Answer Key for all questions
9. Two Extended Writing Response Topics
10. Opinion Writing Rubric
11. Argumentative Writing Rubric
12. Standards Covered by this Product
13. Testing Cover Page
14. Testing Bubble/Answer Sheet
15. Final Essay Blank Writing Paper
16. Digital copies of everything in Google slides.

Please see the preview for even more information and pictures of this product.

Do you need a writing center?

If you are looking for help teaching paired passages, please see my writing center. This product discusses how to teach and organize evidence-based writing.

Paired Passages Writing Center: Citing Text Evidence Bundle Grades 4, 5, & 6

Free Teacher Resource

For more information on teaching text-based essays, please see my blog post explaining the TEACH strategy.

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